Churches, cathedrals and minsters – reminders of the past set in stone

Heavenly, breathtaking, out of this world – these churches, cathedrals and minsters! Their spires rise majestically towards the skies as if they wanted to knock on the Gates of Paradise. You don't even have to be at all religious to recognise the celestial beauty of many churches and cathedrals.

Hallelujah! Since time immemorial, mankind has dedicated magnificent buildings to the Gods. They are spiritual havens of peace, places in which things follow a different, divine rhythm: churches, cathedrals and minsters, synagogues, mosques and small pilgrimage chapels, whether Christian or non-Christian places of worship, are almost always ornately decorated and often top attractions among tourists. Cologne Cathedral, the Church of Our Lady in Dresden and Ulm Minster – many still serve as places of worship today, others are now sacred museums. But these heavenly buildings all have one thing in common: they are the most fascinating places to visit. Judaism is one of the main world religions and originated more than 4,000 years ago. Around the world, there are around 14 million people who pray in synagogues, whose God is called Yahweh, for whom Saturday, the Sabbath, is a day of rest and for whom the Star of David is the common symbol. There were also many notable figures who, in the course of history, have become role models for Christians because of their beliefs and their commitment to the church and society. Many of them are saints or have been beatified, and they are revered by the church. All of these people achieved great things and have left their mark on the world, never to be forgotten.

As well as being fascinating works of architecture, churches today still maintain their traditional role as everyday meeting places for young and old alike.

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